I am just positively blissy! This is my first fire in almost 5 years. After the house burned down on February 5, 2014, and even though there was no fire in the fireplace then and that had nothing to do with the house fire, I couldn’t bear so much as a single candle burning after I moved back in in the autumn of 2014. And it was so sad. When I was looking at houses in 2009 I told the realtor there were 2 things I absolutely had to have, a fenced yard for my dogs and a real wood-burning fireplace. And each year I got a cord of wood delivered and had a fire almost every night. And then the fire happened, and the fireplace has been cold and empty ever since. Until tonight.

I can’t afford a cord of wood and I won’t be having a fire every night but I got 2 boxes of Duraflame logs at a really good price from amazon and some bundles of wood from the grocery store. That will get me started. I will have a fire here and there through the season and it will be a delight. Rachel will be here any time bring Pho for our dinner and we will watch our show (This Is Us) in front of a beautiful fire. And the Christmas tree and Christmas lights are twinkling. This, this is bliss.

I am a person with simple needs. My sweet dog, a good book to read, my little cottage decorated with a few things for Christmas and a fire in the fireplace. I am so happy.

It’s been a hard year, but as we come into the Christmas season and the year comes to a close in a month I have so much to be grateful for. My heart is full and overflowing with love and happiness.

I wish you all the beauty, love, and joy that life may bring. I am going to sit here now and gaze into the fire and thank God for my blessings, and there are many. What a perfect night this is. May all beings be blessed…